Abu Dhabi on hunt for next Alistair Campbell

ABU DHABI: A government-owned investment vehicle is searching for the next Alistair Campbell to boost Abu Dhabi's image. (Getty Images)

Abu Dhabi is on the hunt for "an Alistair Campbell" to boost the emirate's image around the world, and is willing to fork out up to $700,000 a year for the right candidate.

An unnamed government-owned investment vehicle is looking to recruit an equivalent of the UK spin doctor and right hand man of former prime minister Tony Blair and has put feelers out worldwide, a consultant involved in the hunt told ArabianBusiness.com on Monday.

The consultant said the director of corporate communications would be tasked with raising the profile of Abu Dhabi and bringing it out from under the shadow of Dubai, which has grabbed international headlines in recent years with its numerous mega projects.

According to an advertisement on the website of the UK's Financial Times, Abu Dhabi is seeking a forward thinking "visionary" with a strong media profile and at least 12 years experience in the industry.

The candidate will have "unparalleled leadership, lobbying and negotiation skills" and "dynamism, a charismatic personality and excellent written and verbal skills are all prerequisites”, the advert says.

The consultant said the suitable candidate would need to be a CEO of a PR agency or have a similar background.

Abu Dhabi is looking internationally as that kind of talent is not readily available in the region, the consultant added.

The consultant would not name the investment vehicle, but said it was a private firm that could go public in the future.

According to the job advert, the company’s mandate is to oversee the development of a "substantial number of projects rooted in key sectors including energy, utilities, aerospace, real estate, healthcare, technology and infrastructure".

The company’s directive is to establish new businesses and acquire existing businesses internationally and in the UAE, the advert says.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Why Internationally?
Posted by Steve, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Friday 4 July 2008 at 09:17 UAE time


Surely if suitable qualified people living locally are available then they will apply and be interviewed in normal manner - there are no barriers if you meet the criteria set - the issue is whether anyone has the experience to do the job which is why sometimes outside expertise is required to train and nurture local talent.

Why Internationally?
Posted by Zaina, Dubai, U.A.E. on Wednesday 18 June 2008 at 10:42 UAE time

I'm really tired of reading articles or hearing people say "well you can't find that kind of talent here so we're gonna have to fly people in from somewhere else"!!! We DO have local talent and we DO have local intelligence and sophistication and there are numerous educated successful individuals who would be perfect candidates for a role such as this.

I'm seriously APPALLED!

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